Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV by Borthwick, Finlay (book recommendations website .TXT) 📗

“This is gonna sting,” she mumbled to her patient, “But that’s to be expected.”

The patient was rapidly losing consciousness. As such, the only reaction he could give to the stinging sensation was a low groan.

“I’m gonna have to sew this up before we bandage it,” Erica noted, “Price, clean the needle.” She once again ordered him as she gestured to the alcohol in the bowl.

Price dipped the needle in the liquid and then carefully threaded the nylon through the eye. “Here.” He carefully handed it to her, double-checking the sharp end would be facing away from her fingertip.

“Much obliged.” Erica took the needle without turning away from the wound and then hovered the needle over it, her hands shaking with hesitance.

“You can do this,” Tina reassuringly whispered to her from the other side of the bed, noticing how nervous Erica was, “You’ve got this, Erica.”

“I know, I know.” She affirmed, mostly in reassurance for herself.

LONDON

NOVEMBER 2034

“You were so complicit,” Erica recalled in front of Price’s grave, “You did what I asked without any question or confusion; I needed the syringe? You gave me the syringe. I needed the needle? You gave me the needle.” She laughed before she stated, “You were the best damn apprentice I ever had.”

Noticing the engraving of his name on the cross, combined with a year that was strangely long gone, had sent Erica into a wistful silence.

LONDON

APRIL 2027

Sat alone on one of the park benches, Erica was crying into her sleeves; the surgery had not gone well.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Price declared with a smile as he ominously appeared from behind the bench.

“Oh, Price!” Erica quickly wiped her tears away, not wanting her emotions to be seen by anyone.

Price sat down next to her on the bench, “It’s okay to cry, Erica. A man died in your hospital this afternoon.”

Although these words had been said in an attempt to comfort her, they had actually caused Erica’s eyes to water up even more.

“It wasn’t your fault.” He said the exact words that she needed to hear. “The moment that man was brought in through the gate, he was already dead.”

Erica wouldn’t let herself believe this, “I could’ve done more, Price!” She professed nasally, “Maybe if I hadn’t had stuttered right at the start, or if my hands weren’t as shaky and sweaty, maybe he’d have made it!”

Price rubbed her back caringly, “And maybe if the man wasn’t stabbed at all, he would never have needed surgery.” He joined in with the blame game, pointing out to Erica that there were a thousand different conditions that prevented the man’s death from being her fault.

Erica snivelled, “I’ve been dealing with minor cuts and bruises over the past year,” she spoke about how ‘easy’ her time in the safe zone had been as a nurse so far, “Dishing out plasters here and there, nothing major—This was the first time since everything went to shit that I had a proper wound to deal with, and I messed it up!”

Noticing that she was about to break down, Price took Erica into his arms and hugged her tightly, “It’s just how things are now, Erica. It’s just how things are…”

LONDON

NOVEMBER 2034

“And you were so sweet to me.” Erica caressed the wooden cross as she remembered Price’s tenderness. “I’ll never forget that… Thank you.” She gave one last smile to his grave before turning in the other direction to look at the next one.

The adjacent grave also had a wooden cross to mark its’ deceased contents. This one read:

‘STEVEN

1993 – 2028’

Erica sighed and looked to the ground dismayingly, for she had not thought about Steven for a long time. Intrinsically, many memories of him came flooding back to her as well. Though one particular memory stood out amongst all of the rest…

CAMRBRIDGE

AUGUST 2027

As a form of post-apocalyptic summer vacation, and also to boost everybody’s spirits, Steven had planned a pilgrimage all the way up to Cambridge in order to help everybody remember what their lives used to be like, and also to help them see that the end of the world really did not have to change everything.

It had taken them three days to walk up there for various reasons. These reasons included, but were absolutely not limited to: Roadblocks, getting lost in woodlands, people having breakdowns, maps being read the wrong way up, and so on and so forth.

As a result of these delays, there was much happiness amongst the group when they had finally arrived in the city.

“Holy shit,” Price commented in amazement, “Is that the university?”

“It is indeed,” Erica confirmed with a smile as she too was astounded by this sight, “I’ve never seen it with my own eyes before, look at it! It’s huge!”

“Neither have I,” Price added, “And you’re right… It’s such a beautiful place!”

But Keith, being the life of the party as always, had to point out the one thing that ruined the entire landscape, “Look at all those dead students along the riverbank!”

Steven nudged him forcefully in the diaphragm, “Don’t be so disrespectful! They’re people’s sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters, you know.”

Whilst crouched over to regain his breath, Keith raised his hand apologetically.

“Poor sods.” Price mumbled as he shook his head in misery.

“Do you think they died on Day Zero?” Erica proffered a question to the rest of the group.

Steven nodded remorsefully, “Judging by the state of their bodies, it looks like it.”

Although the university was on the other side of the river, Steven could clearly see just how rotten and grey the dead students’ flesh was, as well as the fact that there were pools of dried out and bloody vomit around the areas where their heads were rested.